It Aint Always Pretty…

Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ 

A future and a hope…

But we don’t see future too well. We see the here and now, the right this minute. And most times we don’t like what we see! In that moment our nature and our brain determine that there is NO hope for our FUTURE… in other words there is NO FUTURE! And if… there might be a future… I fear that it will not make me happy and therefore, I HATE it before it even happens!

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 

Our biggest fear of all… we are not in control! Every moment of every day we are confronted by this truth. As we spoke last week, we can deny reality and build our dream world that appears to prove our power and authority, but as Ecclesiastes says, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Our lust for power and authority is all fairy dust to convince our PERCEPTION that there is nothing to fear but fear itself. We can argue all day long about whose fault it is when our world explodes around us, but it never diminishes the fact that our life is vulnerable, up to and including being taken away, to a myriad of people, places, and things that can and do cause mayhem in their wake.

Whose fault it is may give us a target for our anger, but will do nothing to ensure that we are never vulnerable. Because, the truth is, we ARE vulnerable… and weak… and powerless to overcome evil (and if you don’t like the word evil then we can just as well substitute “the uglies”) Even atheists and agnostics have to submit to their god of chance… chances are that their life is or will be effected by things they wish they could avoid but cannot.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Watch out in 3 – 2 – 1… pandemonium will break out as every one of us throws our hissy fit when we realize that we are not exempt from suffering AND will never be exempt as long as this life endures. EVERY one of us will react… we ALL hate suffering! Suffering is NEVER PRETTY!! Suffering is NEVER FUN!! Suffering is NEVER EASY!!

But… ALL of creation groans… Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now… groans and suffers.

So…

If I am human… with the ability to reason and think…

If I am NOT all-powerful and in control…

If I am at the mercy of all of creation as it groans and suffers…

What are my options?

To pursue the One who promises a future and a hope? Or give up and give in to “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.”

Call me crazy… Crazy Mary…

I choose Emmanuel – God with us. Not just a god but THE God, who cares for us. Not a god who remains aloof and unrelenting, but My God who says to us… Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 

Now who’s talking imagination? You hear His voice? Yep… and not only that… I dine with Him.

AND… in all these years… He hasn’t lied to me yet! Unlike MY imagination that makes things up to please myself or make me FEEL safe, He tells me the truth because He IS the truth.

No, this life isn’t always pretty… in fact, it is always challenging!

I choose to pursue a future and a hope with the One who can and does deliver…

Psalm 139:13-18 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful  are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. 

A future… Isaiah 55:12 “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

A hope… Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. 

When life is nothing more than ugly (bordering on evil) and I can do nothing but gasp for breath, I do not lean on my own understanding, my own perception… I trust in the LORD with all my heart… Proverbs 3:5

Isaiah 30:19-21 O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. 

When “Life Ain’t Pretty…” Pursue God! John 8:32 “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible